Only three out of 23 staff report to work at Fuvahmulah court in protest over pay cut

Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court employees have begun a protest, alleging the government’s pay harmonization policy has resulted in a reduction of their salaries. 

The salaries of over 20,000 civil servants, including administrative staff in the judiciary and councils, were increased under the government’s pay harmonization policy on November 1^st. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the salaries of remaining civil servants, who have not received increments under the pay harmonization program, will be increased next year.

However, some civil servants have raised concerns, citing that the changes under pay harmonization have decreased their salaries.

Speaking with Sun on the condition of anonymity, a staff member from Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court said only three out of its 23 employees, excluding magistrates, reported to work on Thursday. The staff added that the Court’s employees reported to work on Wednesday dressed in black in silent protest.

According to the staff, the majority of employees at Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court did not report to work on Thursday in protest of the changes brought about to their salaries by pay harmonization. The staff detailed that the employees have not been informed of the exact amount they will receive in their salaries this month.

The staff emphasized that lower-ranked employees at the court presently take home a salary of MVR 14,000, including overtime allowances. Meanwhile, the staff noted that the salaries of administrators, who previously took home a salary of MVR 14,000, now receive up to MVR 30,000 without overtime allowances.

The staff also voiced concern over the increased pension deduction arising from the increase in basic salary.

According to the staff, the majority of the court’s staff are required to work overtime beyond regular hours, yet overtime pay has been capped at 10 percent, which will ultimately reduce their monthly take-home income.

“After 16:00pm in the evening, there is a continuity allowance. However, OT is not applicable between 16:00pm and 18:00pm. So, OT is only applicable after working for two hours of working. Approximately MVR 4,000 will be reduced from the monthly salaries of administrative staff,” the staff said.

Notably, a group of legal officers working in the judiciary is preparing to submit a petition to Parliament, alleging that the government’s pay harmonization policy has resulted in a reduction of their salaries.

The petition, which is being drafted for submission to the Parliament’s Judiciary Committee, the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), and the President’s Office, has so far been signed by around 120 court employees, according to a staff member who spoke to Sun on condition of anonymity.

However, legal officers argue that the new structure has reduced their pay by MVR 396, despite increases for other court positions. For instance, the salary of an assistant director reportedly rose by MVR 9,346, according to the letter prepared by the petitioners.

The letter emphasizes that legal officers have historically been classified separately from administrative or managerial staff within the judiciary. It claims that this distinction was not preserved in the new pay structure, leading to a loss of allowances and a net salary decrease.

The petition also highlights disparities in how harmonization was applied across courts, with some legal officers receiving no adjustments while others in similar roles saw significant increases.